Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 12 years for arson, killing animals

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday for intentionally setting fire to a house with 15 animals that all died.

Johnathan Jay Ramey, 47, pleaded guilty in February in Linn County District Court to second-degree arson and one aggravated misdemeanor charge of animal abuse.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Valerie Clay sentenced Ramey on Wednesday to 10 years on the arson conviction and two years for animal abuse, which she ran consecutively for 12 years in prison.

The other 14 animal abuse charges were dismissed at sentencing in accordance with the plea agreement.

On Oct. 1, Ramey set fire in seven different areas of the house where he lived at 1730 11th St. NW, according to a criminal complaint. Two smoke alarms had been removed, and Ramey sent several text messages to the homeowner indicating he intended to set the blaze and leave the animals inside.

There were 15 animals — four ducks, three rabbits, two geese, two dogs, two fish, a cat and a snake — killed in the fire, the complaint said.

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